Recovery of aqueous azeotrope former in azeotropic distillation of hydrocarbons



Nov. 19, l1946.

RECOVERY 0F AQUEOUS AZEOTROPE FORMER IN OZEOTROPIC G. LAKE 2,411,437 i DISTILLATION OF HYDROCARBONS Filed Oct. 18, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 o/snL/.maN

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HZEOWE FORMER INVENTOR Patented Nov. 19, 1946 RECOVERY OF AQUEOUS AZEOTROPE FORMER IN AZEOTROPIC DISTILLA- TION OF HYDROCARBON S George R. Lake, Long Beach Calif., assignor to Union Oil Company of California, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application October 18, 1941, Serial No. 415,568

Yof substantially the same boiling point contained in a complex hydrocarbon fraction by azeotropic distillationY is Well known. This process consists in distilling the hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of an extraneous substance which has a preferential afllnity for one of the components contained in the complex hydrocarbon fraction, thus causing a disturbance of the vapor pressure equilibrium that formerly existed in the fraction in 8 Claims. (Cl. 202-42) such manner that the partial vapor pressure or l fugacity of at least one component in the fraction is changed sumciently to permit its separation by controlled fractional distillation. In such processes, the distillation effects the separation of the relatively more paraliinic hydrocarbons together with the extraneous substance leaving as undistilledbottoms the relatively less parafllnic hydrocarbons which may or may not contain a portion of the extraneous substance. In the present description of my invention, the aforesaid type of fractional distillation will be referred to as azeotropic distillation, the extraneous substance `or substances which are added to the complex hydrocarbon fraction to effect the aforementioned change will be referred to as azeotrope formers and the overhead from the azeotropic distillation will be referred to as the azeotropic distillate.

One of` the main diiiculties in the azeotropic of -the azeotrope former from the hydrocarbons with water since in many cases, the azeotrope former has a preferential solubility in the hydrocarbons as compared with the solubility in the water. The result is that the hydrocarbons must be, washed with an excessively large amount of water in order to remove the last traces of the azeotrope former so that the hydrocarbons may be utilized and the azeotrope former recoveredV without sustaining a substantial loss of this more valuable material. To illustrate, it has been found that methyl ethyl ketone containing'water, i. e.,

about 10% by volume, is very efficient as an azeo-v trope former to effect the separation of non-aromatic hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon fraction 1 containing toluene. y Yetthe use of this azeotrope former offers the serious difficulty of recovering the methyl ethyl ketone from the azeotropic distillate. While the separation of` the methyl ethyl ketone may be accomplished by washing with water, this has required about ve or six volumes of water for each volume of azeotropic distillate. Furthermore, in order to recover' the methyl ethy1 ketone from the veiy dilute wash solution, it is contained in the vazeotropic .distillate and it is a 30 particular object to effect the aforesaid separation in an efficient and economical manner.

Itis a further object of my invention to effect the separation of the aqueous azeotrope former from` the'azeotropic distillate by rst removing the Water contained in the azeotropic distillate and then subjecting the driedazeotropic distillate contained in the azeotrope distillate. One of the f methods proposed for this purpose resides in washing the azeotropic distillate with water which l is adapted to dissolve the azeotrope former from former from the hydrocarbons. A further object is to effect the fractional distillation of the dried azeotropic distillate under temperature and pressure conditions which are different than those of the azeotropic distillation resulting in the production of the azeotropic distillate.' V

I have discovered that if the water contained in 1an .azeotropic distillate which is produced by distilling a complex hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of an aqueous azeotrope former is removed from the azeotropic distillate, the latter may then be fractionally distilled `and the remaining non-aqueous azeotrope former may be be distilled inthe same as the azeotropic distillate was removed in the initial azeotropic" distillation. However, by first dehydra'ting the azeotropic distillate, the compositin of the remaining azeotropic distillate is modified sulciently with respect to the partial vapor pressure of the constituents therein so that subsequent fractional distillation will prevent an azeotrope from distilling over and thus a separation of the azeotrope former from the hydrocarbons may be accomplished.

In other words, it has been found that; certain compounds are very veiiicient azeotrope'formers for the vseparation of hydrocarbons when employed in the 'absence of water, whereas other compounds are very eicient only in the presence of water to effect the desired separation and when employed in the absence of water merely distill from'the hydrocarbon mixture without taking,

any of the hydrocarbon components overhead. Hence, when an azeotropic distillate which is produced by distilling a complex hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of such compound and water is first dehydrated, subsequent distillation under controlled conditions of the dehydrated azeotropic distillate results in the distillation of the azeotrope former without removing overhead any` of the hydrocarbons in the same manner as when the distillation of the initial 'hydrocarbon fraction iseffected in the presence of theazeotrope former. and in absence of water.

Dehydration-of the azeotropicA distillate is 'accomplished by merely contacting the azeotropic distillate with a dehydrating agent which has a preferential4 affinity for Water. Preferably this is accomplished by passing the azeotropic distillate through a bed of solid absorbent material which is adapted to absorb the water in preference to the 'organic materials contained in the azeotropic distillate. Solid materials adapted to absorb the waterfrom the azeotropic distillate include acti- -vated clays, activated carbons, Activated Alumina, activated silica, cotton, also unactivated clays, carbons, aluminum, silica, etc. j

Another method which lmay be employed for separating the watel` from the azeotropic distillate includes theuse of solid water soluble compounds such` as sodium chloride, calcium oxide and chloride, sodium and .potassium carbonates;

s sulfates and hydroxides and metallic salts of pyrosulfuric and pyrophosphoric acids such as the pyrosulfates and pyrophosphates of potassium, sodium, zinc, calcium, mercury, silver, copper, etc.- When using these dehydrating agents, the solid as it absorbsthe moisture lfrom the azeotropic distillate'forms a solution of the dehydrat-` ing `agent and water 'which during the process of passing the azeotropic distillate through the solid compounds, separates -from the remaining i solid compound and thus may lbe removed as a,

bottom layer from the drier.

Also, normally liquid materialsmay be em- Y ployed as dehydrating agents for separating the water from the azeotropic distillate. Liquids which may be employed for this purpose include glycerine, polyglycols such as mono, di, triethylene and other glycols, sulfuric acid, etc. Dehydration with these materials may be accomplished by simply .contacting the azeotropic distillat or bubbling the vaporized azeotropic dis- K tillate through a layer of the dehydrating liquid.

Dehydration of the azeotropic distillate may also be accomplished by chilling the distillate to a temperature sulliciently lov.r to crystallize the aqueous portion of the distillate which may then mannerand composition be removed by settling, centrifuging or dilterlng the chilled mixture.` In general, the passage of the azeotropic'distillate through the dehydrating agent is continued until the dehydrating agent is saturated with water and is no longer effective for removing further quantities of the water, whereupon the stream of azeotropic distillate is diverted toa fresh drier and the saturated dehydrating agent is regenerated. In the case of solid absorbents, regeneration is accomplished by blowing a heating gas, such as steam, air or inert gas through the drier containing the dehydrating agent until all of the water has been distilled from the dehydrating agent. In the case "of the normally liquid absorbent, regeneration maybe similarly accomplished or the saturated dehydrating agent may be fractionally distilled at a temperature above the boiling point of water asis well known by those skilled in the art. Where solid dehydrating agents are employed which form solutions in water, the separated aqueous solution drocarbons. The overhead, azeotrope formerfif relatively free from hydrocarbons may be mixed with the proper quantity of water and returned to the azeotropic distillation step. In the event the thus separated azeotrope former contains a substantial portion of the hydrocarbons, this mixture may be' condensed and then subjected to extraction with a selective solvent adapted to dissolve one of the components, either the azeotrope former or. the hydrocarbons but not substantial quantities of the other component as will be described hereinafter.

- Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the invention as taken from the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic arrangement of apparatus for carrying out my invention and Figure 2 represents a simplified flow diagram showing the important process steps of the invention.

In the following example, the invention will be described as applied to the separation of toluene from ahydrocarbon fraction employing methyl ethyl ketone containing about 10% by volume of water as the azeotrope former and clay as the` dehydrating agent. However, it will be observed that this example is not to be tal-:en as limiting my invention since the process is applicable to separate other components from complex substances employing other azeotrope farmers containing water under conditions adapted to eilect the desired separation and other dehydrating agents.

In Figure 1, the hydrocarbon feed to be resolved into its component parts preferably one having a narrow boiling range, not more than 50 F., such as for example', a hydrocarbon fraction having a boiling range of about 200 to 240 F. 75 and consisting of substantially 45% by volume The dehydrated azeotropic distillate consisting former as a fraction substantially free from hyof toluene, 6% by volume of olens and the remainder parailln and naphthene hydrocarbons obtained by fractionation of a catalytically reformed gasoline, is taken from tank I via line II and is pumped by pump I2 through line I4 controlled by valve I5 into line I6. Azeotrope former, such as methyl ethyl ketone, containing about water,` is takenfrom tank I1 via line I8 controlled by valve I9 and is pumped by pump through lines 2l and 22 and valve 23 into line IB where it is mixed with the hydrocarbon feed from tank I0. The mixture of hydrocarbon feed and azeotrope former in the ratio of approximately two parts of the azeotrope former and one part of hydrocarbon feed in the example herein given, is passed into fractionating column 2d where the mixture is subjected to fractionation, heat being supplied by closed steam coil 25. If desired, the azeotrope former may be introduced directly into the fractionating column at any other point as near the top of the column in which case it will act in part as reflux for the fractionation or reux may l obtained by cooling coil a. In the fractionating column, the distillation iscontrolled so as to distill overhead an azeotrope consisting of the paraffin, olen and naphthene hydrocarbons together with substantially all of the methyl ethyl ketone andv water. In the example herein given, this is ac# complished at an overhead temperature of approximately i60-170 F. and at atmospheric pressure. If desired, the azeotropic distillation may be carried out either at atmospheric or superatmospheric pressure or under a vacuum. Other i azeotrope formers containing water which areeffective for separating the relatively non-aromatic hydrocarbons from the relatively aromatic hydrocarbons include alcohols such as ethyl, normal and isopropyl, primary, secondary and tertiary butyl alcohols, other ketones such as diethyl ketone and methyl isobutyl ketone, dioxane, etc. The optimum amount of water to' be employed with these azeotrope ormers for eillcient operation will vary from 5 to 25% by volume, depending. upon the characteristics of the particular compound such as its Iboiling point.

The type of distillation to be used depends somewhat upon the quantity of the azeotrope former used. I` may distill over any proportion of the petroleum fraction to be subjected to azeotropic distillation that I desire by adjusting the quantity of azeotrope former. Thus. by employing a relatively small proportion of the azeotrope former, it is possible to distill overhead a portion of 'the relatively non-aromatic hydrocarbons and leave a portion as bottoms with the relatively aromatic hydrocarbons, or by employing a relatively larger amount of the azeotrope former, it is possible to distill all of the relatively non-aromatic hydrocarbons and a portion'of the relatively aromatic hydrocarbons, leaving relatively aromatic hydrocarbons as still bottoms.

The above overhead mixture is removed'frorn the iractionating column via line 26, controlled by valve 21, condensed in condenser 28 and passed via line 29 into line 3b controlled by valve 30a to the methyl ethyl ketone-water 'recovery system, as will be described hereinafter. In some cases, depending upon the hydrocarbon ieed and the character and composition of4 the azeotrope former, the azeotropic distillate obtained in line 26 will separate into twophases when properly cooled. In the case ofithe example herein de scribed, cooling of the azeotropic distillate to about 50,-70 F., the condensate will-separate when allowed to settle into an upper phase comfil stantially all of the water containing the remainder of methyl ethyl ketone. In such case. it is preferable to pass the cooled azeotropic condensate from condenser 28 through lines 29 and 3| controlled by valve 3Ia into a separator 32 where the mixture is allowed to stratlfy into the two layers. The lower layer is withdrawn via line 34 and may be passed by pump 32a via line 33 controlled byvalvea to .a recovery system for the recovery of the methyl ethyl ketone, as will be describedihereinafter. Preferably, it is passed into line 22 where it may' be mixed with methyl ethyl ketone introduced into line 22 as will be described hereinafter in such proportions as to 'produce an azeotropeiormer containing an optimum amount of water which mixture may then be recycled to the azeotropic distillate. The upper layer is withdrawn via line 35 and passed via line 30 to the methyl ethyl ketone recovery system. i

consisting of the aromatic fraction or toluene are withdrawn via line 38 controlled by valve 3l and are pumped by pump 38 through line 39. If the hydrocarbon feed to the azeotropic distillation has been carefully fractionated to produce a fraction free from aromatic hydrocarbons other than toluene and if the azeotropic distillation has been carried out under such conditions as to remove all of the non-aromatic hydrocarbons and azeotrope former, the bottoms from the fractionating column may be passed directly via lines 36, 39,740 controlled by valve 4I, lines 52, 43 controlled by valve 44 and line l5 into storage tank 46. However, in the event the charging stock has not been carefully fractionated to remove aromatic hydrocarbons heavier than toluene, such as xylene, etc., the bottoms in the fractionating column 24 will contain all or substantial amounts of such aromatic hydrocarbons. In the event it is desired to recover the aromatic hydrocarbon mixture per se, it is passed directly to tank 46 as described above. However, if it is desred to separate the toluene from the :remaining aromatic hydrocarbons, the bottoms are passed via lines 36, 39, 40. 42 into line 41 controlled by valve 48 from which it passes through heater 49 and line 50 into fractlonating column 6I where the mixture is fractionated to remove the toluene as an overhead product aided by heat from the heater 52. The vaporized toluene is removed from the top of the Iractlonatlng column El via line 53, condensed in condenser 54 and passed via line 65 into collecting tank 56. The

condensate may be withdrawn from the oollectvalve Stand pumped by pump and line B6V into storage tank B1.

In4 the event the bottoms fraction from the fractionating column 25 .contains a portion of the azeotropeiormer, this may be removed by some water and a lower phase consisting of sub- The bottoms in the fractionating column 2d passing the bottom fractionv via lines 36, 39 and 68 controlled by valve 69 through heater 10 and line 1| into fractionating column 12 provided `with a heater `13 and reflux cooling coil 14 where theazeotrope former may be fractionated and removed via line 15, condensed in condenser 16 and passed via line 11 into collecting tank 18 from which it may b'e returned to the fractionating column 24 by pump 19 and line 80 Ycontrolled Aby valve 9| and lines 22 and IB. The bottoms from the fractionating column 12 may be passed via line 82 controlled by valve 83 into line 42 from which it may be passed by pump 84 eitherdirectly to the storage tank 46 or to fractionating column in accordance with theabove disclosure.

The toluene or the mixture of toluene and higher boiling aromatic hydrocarbons obtained in tank 46 and the higher boiling aromatic hydrocarbons obtained in tank 61 may be treated with clay which may be accomplished at a temperature of about 230 F. employing l to 5 pounds of vclay per barrel of the hydrocarbon fraction. If ldesired, the clay treatment may precede the fractionation in fractionating column 5| in which case the 'fractionation in 5| may serve either to rerun the clay treated stock and/or to fractionate the high boiling aromatic hydrocarbons from the toluene". In place of clay treatment, the arov matic fraction may be cooled and then treated with 1 to 10 pounds of sulfuric acid per barrel of the hydrocarbons followed by neutralization with clay or caustic alkali. The acid treatment serves to remove small traces of undesirable unsaturated hydrocarbons which may be detrimental in color stability'and nitration of the toluene.

In order to recover the azeotrope former from the azeotropic distillate, the latter is passed into the bottom oi' either of the driers 85 through linesY 86 and valves 81 which are ypacked with a'clay adapted to remove the water contained inthe distillate when passed upwardly in contact with the clay. If desired, the dehydration may be effected while the distillate is in the vapor phase and in this respectthe condenser 28 may be deleted or .i

operated as a temperature regulator to adjust the temperature of the distillate vaporto the proper level for optimum operation in the drier. Preferably,l the drying is vaccomplished by percolating upwardly a condensate of the azeotropic distillate through the clay.

The dehydrated azeotropic distillate is with-- drawn from the driers 85 through valves l88-and I line 89. Preferably the driers are operated alterl nately, one being employed until 'the dehydrating agent is saturated with water so that it is no a temperature of 75 F. and under an absolute pressure of 100 millimeters of mercury. The methyl ethyl ketone vapors may be passed via valve |00 into line -22 where it is mixed with the optimum amount of water such as obtained in line 34 and the mixture is passed via line I6 to the azeotropic distillation in fractionating co1- umn 24. When the overhead from the fractionating column |00 contains non-aromatic hydrocarbons and it is desired to separate them, the overhead may be passed via line i0| controlled by valve |02, condensed in condenser |03 and passed via line |04 into the bottom of an extractor |05 which is provided with packing material, such as broken tile |06, where the mixture is countercurrently contacted with a selective solvent adapted to extract the methyl ethyl ketone from the mixture. 'Ihe selective solvent is obtained from tank |01 and passed via line |08 controlled by valve |09 and ypumped by pumpi H0 into the extractor |05. As selective solvents adapted for the purpose, tetra ethylene glycol is particularly suitable when used in about two volumes to one of the. hydrocarbon-methyl ethyl ketone mixture at about atmospheric temperal ture.

Besides tetra-ethylene glycol mentionedabove,

selective solvents which I have found suitable to effect the extraction of azeotrope formers from azeotropic distillates include phenolic compounds such as resorcinol, para-chlorophenol, phenol,

xylenol, pyrogallol, pyrocatechol and cresylic acid, polyhydric alcohols such as di-, tri. tetraand hexaethylene glycols and dipropylene glycol,`

amines such as mono, diand tri-ethanolamine, 2methyl propanol amine, diethylene triamine, trlethylene tetramine, tetra-ethylene pentamine. diethylene diamine, tri-ethylene triamine, diphenylamine, xylidine, aniline, ,ortho phenylene diamine, alpha naphthol amine and phenyl hydrazine, fatty acids such as acetic, propionic and form'ic acids. aliphatic alcohols such as methyl. ethyl, isopropyl. tertiary butyl and normal propyl alcohols, ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone and acetone, cyclic lketones such as cyclohexanone, alkyl ethers of polyglycols such as mono ethyl ether of diethylene glycol and ethyl ether A of ethylene glycol, heterocyclic compounds such as furfuryl alcohols. tetrahydro furfuryl alcohol.

` effect the desired separation since llonger eifective to dehydrate the distillate, after which the distillate stream is diverted to the other drier and the saturated dehydrating agent is regenerated. Regeneration is accomplished by blowing a heated gas. such as steam, air or inert-gas through the dehydrating agent which may be introduced via lines 90 controlled by valves 9|. The regenerating gases `and water separated from the dehydrating agent in the ti'orm of steam is removed from the driers 85 vialines 82 controlled by valves 93.

Thedehydrated distillate passing through line 80 is heated in heater 94 and passed via line 95 into the Vfractionating column 96 which is provided with heater 91 and reflux coolingV coil 98 where the methyl ethyl ketone isvdistilled from thehun-aromatic hydrocarbons and withdrawn from the fractionating column via line 98.. Fractionation incolumn 90 is preferably carried at useful forA the purpose include benzene.

dioxane. morpholine, plperidine and thiophene, nitroparaflins such as nltromethane, nitroethaneand nitropropane. In addition to the above. aromatic hydrocarbon solvents may be employed to the azeotrope formers have a greater ailnity for these hydro-` carbons than they have for the relatively nonhydrocarbons, I may employ a solvent which is u selective for the hydrocarbons and thus separate a solution of the solvent and hydrocarbons from the azeotrope former. Solventsv adapted to ac- 'adjustment of water content.

complish this purpose include highly parailinic hydrocarbons of high boiling point such as solvent rened lubricating oill fractions which have a greater affinity for the non-aromatic hydrocarbons than for azeotrope former. Also, low melting paraflin waxes and other paraiiin hydrocarbons may be used for this purpose.

The non-aromatic hydrocarbons, if relatively free of methyl ethyl ketone are withdrawn from the top of the extractor via line l|| controlled by valve H2 and are pumped by pump H4 into storage tank H5, Non-aromatic hydrocarbons separated in fractionating column 96 are withdrawn as bottoms via line H6 controlled by valve lli and are passed by pump I8 into storage tank I l5. The solution of selective solvent and methyl ethyl ketone is withdrawn vla line l |9 controlled by valve 20 and pumped by pump |2| through heater |22 into fractionating column |23 provided with heater |26 Where the mixture is fractionated to separate the methyl ethyl ketone as an overhead vapor which may be passed via line |25 and valve |26 through lines 2|, 22 and l5 into the fractionating column 2li or the overhead may be passed via line I2? controlled by valve |23, condensed in condenser iig and collected in collecting tank |36. As indicated above, the lower layer in separator 32 passing through line 33 may also be passed into the fractionatlng column |23 for,

the recovery of the azeotrope former. The condensate is Withdrawn from the bottom of the collecting tank by pump |3| and part thereof may be passed via line E32 controlled by valve |33 to fractionating column `|23 to serve as reux for the fractionation. The remaining portion of the condensate is passed via line ist controlled by valve 35 into storage tank il. The selective solvent is withdrawn from the bottom of the fractionating column |23 via line |36 controlled by valve I3? and is pumped by pump 38 through cooler i3d and line il to storage tank lill.

As disclosed above, the methyl ethyl ketone distilled as an overhead vapor in fractionating columns 96 and |23 may be passed to the azeotropic distillation in iractionating column 2d to serve as azeotrope former for the distillation. However, since the azeotropic distillation in 24 is preferably carried out in the presence of a mixture' of 90% methyl ethyl ketone and 10% water, the overhead vapor from fractionatlng columns 96 and 23 will be relatively free of water and thus this overhead vapor must be adjusted to the proper water content by addition of water. In A some casesas described above, when the azeotropic distillate from 24 is cooled and separated in separator 32 and the bottom layer consists substantially of' Water, this bottom layer may be mixed with the overhead from fractionating column 9S and |23 to effect, in part, the desired adjustment of water, content in the azeotrope former. Also; the water separated from driers @E may be passed into line 22 to effect the above other hydrocarbon components contained therein which ordinarily distill from the hydrccarbonV fraction in the same temperature range as said ll0 chemically similar hydrocarbon componentsdis- -tilled therefrom which comprises distlling saidcomplex hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of a. suiiicient amount of an azeotrope` former and water to produce an azeotropic distillate consisting of at least one class of the chemically similar components contained in said complex hydrocarbon fraction together with said azeotrope former and Water, thereby leaving at least one class of chemically similar components diierent from said chemically similar components contained in said azeotropic distillate -contained in said complex' hydrocarbon fraction in the residue, the steps of dehydrating said azeotropic distillate with a dehydrating agent, that bodily removes water separating the remaining-azeotropic distillate from the dehydrating agent and water and fractionally distilling said dehydrated azeotropic distillate to separate the azeotrope former from hydrocarbone.

2. In a process for the treatment .of a complex hydrocarbon fraction to separate chemically similar hydrocarbon components therefrom from other hydrocarbon components contained therein which ordinarily distill from the hydrocarbon fraction in the same temperature range as said chemically similar hydrocarbon components distilled therefrom which comprises distilling said complex hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of a sucient amount of an azeotrope former and water to produce an azeotropic distillate consisting of at least one class of the chemically similar4 components contained in said complex hydrocarbon fraction together with said :azeotrope former and water, thereby leaving at least one class of chemically similar components different from said chemically similar components contained in said azeotropic distillate contained in said complex hydrocarbon fraction in the residue, the steps of dehydrating said azeotropic distillate with a dehydrating agent, that bodily7 removes water separating the remaining azeotropic distillate from the dehydrating agent and water and fractionally distilling said dehydrated azeotropic distillate at a reduced pressure to separate the azeotrope former from hydrocarbons.

3. In a process for the treatment of a complex hydrocarbon fraction to separate it into component' parts of dissimilar characteristics which,

comprises .distilling said complex hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of a sumcient amount of an aqueous azeotrope former to produce an azeotropicvdistillate consisting of at least one of the components contained in said complex hydrocarbon fraction together with said azeotrope former and Water, thereby leaving at least one of the components contained in said complex hydrocarbon fraction in the residue, the steps of dehydrating said azeotropic distillate with a dehydrating agent, that bodily removes water separating the dehydrated azeotropic distillate from the dehydra-ting agent and water, fractionally distilling said dehydrated azeotropic distillate to 4separate the azeotrope former together with a portion of hydrocarbons contained in said azeotropic distillate from remaining hydrocarbons and extracting said separated mixture with a selective solvent to separate said azeotrope former from said hydro'carbons.

4. Ina process for the treatment of a complex hydro-carbon fraction to separate chemically similar hydrocarbon components therefrom from other hydrocarbon components contained therein Ywhich ordinarily distill from the hydrocarbon fraction in the same temperature range as said 'said chemically 'similar components contained in said azeotropic distillate, contained in said complex hydrocarbon fraction, in the residue, the

steps oi dehydrating said azeotropic distillate with a solid absorbent that bodily removes water, sepa.

rating the remaining azeotropic distillate from the solid absorbent and water and separating the y azeotrope former from hydrocarbons.

5. In a process for the treatment of a complex hydrocarbon fraction to separate chemically similar hydrocarbon components therefrom from otherl hydrocarbon components contained therein which ordinarily disti11 from the hydrocarbon fraction in the same temperature range as said chemically similar hydrocarbon components distill therefrom, which comprises distilling said chemically similar hydrocarbon components dlsv l hydrocarbons.

l 12 complex hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of a suiflcient amount of an azeotrope former and water to produce an azeotropic distillate consisting of at least one class of the chemically similar components contained in said complex hydrocarbon fraction together withl said azeotrope former and water, thereby leaving at least one class of chemically similar components, diiIerent from said chemically similar components contained in said azeotropic distillate, contained in said complex hydrocarbon fraction, in the residue, the steps oi' dehydrating said azeotropic distillate withl a solid absorbent that bodily removes Water separating the dehydrated azeotropic distillate from the solid absorbent and water and fractionally distilling said dehydrated azeotropic distillate to separate the azeotrope former from 6. A process according to claim 4 in which said solid absorbent is clay.

7. A process according to claim 4 in which said solid absorbent is carbon.

8. A process according to claim 4 in which said solid absorbent is alumina.

GEORGE R. LAKE. 

